With the flick of a switch, accompanied by oohs, aahs and applause, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art was awash in a festive glow.
The second annual Winter Lights Illumination Night was held Friday, bringing cheer to downtown Greensburg as the darkest days of the year tick down to the winter solstice.
Bands of light in changing colors played across the museum’s facade, as fairy lights and icicles twinkled in the trees.
“Light up the darkness,” a quote from the late reggae superstar Bob Marley, was emblazoned across the building’s cantilever.
(The rest of the quote, spoken before Marley played a 1976 peace rally just days after being shot, is, “The people that are trying to make the world worse never take a day off, why should I?”)
Just as darkness gave way to light, the slight November chill gave way to complimentary hot chocolate and gourmet hot dogs from Caffe Barista in downtown Greensburg.
Tables were set up in the parking lot for guests to enjoy the sold-out event at a social distance.
The museum’s galleries also were open for them to explore “African American Art of the 20th Century,” a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian American Art Museum; a complementary exhibition of works from The Westmoreland’s permanent collection and loans from Art Bridges and the Indiana University of Pennsylvania museum; and works from the Diversity Billboard Art Project.
The country duo Stillwater played classics of the genre, along with country-inflected Christmas songs.
Winter Lights will run through Feb. 13, with lights shining from dusk to 10 p.m. nightly.
Illumination Night was sponsored by FirstEnergy.
Seen: Joe and Elaine Chojnacki, Dr. Richard Arnold and Vonnie Hunter, Bob and Tracy Marschik, Jim Galik and Jean Slusser, Jim and Alie Starr, Christine Hines, Paulette Geletko, Mark and Suzette Gambone with kids Rocco, Anna and Luca; and Andrew and Jamiee Yaremko with kids Johnathan, Johannah and Ayvonna.
